What kind of contact does the dual-intent rule require?

The dual-intent rule requires contact that is both intentional and offensive. This rule is specific to battery claims in tort law, where a plaintiff must show that the defendant intended to make contact with the plaintiff and that the contact was offensive or harmful.

In the context of this rule, the intent refers to the desire to bring about the contact and not merely the intent to act. The contact must be considered offensive to a reasonable person to satisfy the requirement. This means that even if the contact does not result in physical harm, it can still be actionable if it offends a reasonable person’s sense of personal dignity.

In contrast, the other options do not capture the nuances of the dual-intent rule. While any form of contact may include non-offensive or accidental touches, simply requiring harmful contact overlooks situations where contact can be offensive but not necessarily damaging. Non-contact with actual harm does not meet the criteria for battery under this rule. Therefore, the correct understanding of the dual-intent rule is that it requires contact that is both intentional and offensive, making that option the right choice.